Swimming float



AG H N .I cm .I cw

Oct. 27, 1931.

Filed Oct. l5, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 27, 1931. c. 'c. HARRIS 1,829,090 I SWIMMING FLOAT Filed oct. '13. 1930 2 sheets-sheet 2 MW 627-5 @Erma d' Patented Oct. 27,v 1931 1 PATENT OFFICE 7 CARL C. HARRIS,` OF ORANGE, MASSACHUSETTS SWIMMING FLoA-'r l Application led October 13, 1930. kSerial No. 488,205.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a float principally for use in swimming in which there is no necessity for having any straps for attaching it to the body and to provide it with means by which it will tend to remain in yplace under the body of the user, that is, means for keeping it lfrom moving to one side or the other so that the swimmer can lie flat upon it and be confidenti that the float will remain in place.

The invention also involves the use of a frame surrounding ka floating element consisting of cork pieces or the like and handles on the frame by which the swimmers can 'Y grasp it while it is oating in the Water and by which it can be carried around and thrown out into the water when used as life preserver. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan of a preferred embodiment of the invention with part of the canvas covtering removed to show the floating element; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

F ig. 3 is an end elevation; n Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4--4 i of Fig. 1, and

F igs. 5 and 6 are perspective views of other forms of the invention.

This float is made up preferably of a series of blocks or strips 10 of cork or otherbuoyant f-material. They are assembled or strung on cross rods 11, preferably of wood, which extend through a series of them and are held at their ends by parallel side pieces 12. The stripsof cork are rigidly supported therefore and it will be seen that they have on each side an inclined surface toward the center so that at the center they float is thinner thanat the ends. The wooden pieces 12 are substantially the same shape projecting out at the cn ds enough to receive two end rods'13 spaced from thecork and adapted to further strengthen the frame and alsoftobe used as handles. Each strip of cork'is surrounded by a canvas covering 14. yAt the sides the side pieces 12 are provided with cleats 15 on whichy are secured another pair of handles 16 spaced from the sides.

The handles 13 and 16 have twoffunctions.

rThey are convenient for swilnmers'to grasp while the device is floating on the surface of the water and they'constitute a very important improvement over the ordinary float or lifepreserver -for that reason. The are also convenient foruse in carrying the oat when y out of the water and for use in throwingyit out intothe water when used as a life preserver. y

The shape of the device is Yrectangular and nearly square so that it has an important advantage as to storage space over ordinary life preservers. This is compact and has a maximum vfloating capacity for itssize, but a particular advantage' is the factthat'when the swimmer lies on it, as indicated in dotted' lines in Fig. 2, the upwardly projecting ends prevent its being dislodged from the`- body easily and the swimmer can feel safe about: being dislodged from the float.` It has no effect-ive tendency to move out to one side. v The device is reversible and will drain easily and dry .out comparatively quickly when taken out of the water.

Many of the above remarks apply also to Figs. 5 and 6. In Fig. 5 the float is shown in a very simple form comprising two substan- 30' t-ially rectangular blocks or strips 2() of cork or the like connected flexibly together bythe sheet of canvas 21 which surrounds them.y TheV canvas surrounds each strip of cork and the upper and lower layer are sewed together 35 along a line near the edge of the cork. The space between the two cork strips is elongated and the canvas in that space constitutes a flexible rest forthe body of the user. There is little or notendency for the body to roll off the float. f

InFig. 6 the sitnationis similar but the cork strips 23 are triangular with rounded edges and the advantages ofboth Fig. 2 and' F ig5 are present. n v 95 Although I have illustrated and described only one form 'of the invention I amaware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art witlb out departing from the scope of the invention 1m" CTI 49: pair of side pieces and two sets of blocks of as expressed in the claims. Therefore I do not wish to be limited in this respect, but what I do claim is z- 1. As an article of manufacture, a float and life preserver comprising a series of blocks of light material, rods passing through the series on which the blocks are secured firmly in position, a pair of side pieces to which these rods are secured at their ends and a handle spaced from the iioat and parallel with one edge thereof.

2. As an article of manufacture, a iioat or life preserver comprising two sets of light blocks, rods on which said blocks are strung and a pair of side pieces to which the ends of the rods are secured, said blocks being of al general triangular form with the apexes of the triangles adjacent to each other, whereby the ends of the float are thicker than its center, for the purpose described.

,. center.

4. A ioat or life preserver comprising a pair of side pieces spaced apart, rods iixed to the side pieces and extending from one to the other, and blocks of cork strung on the rods and extending from one side piece to the other, the .side pieces and assembly of the corks being wide at the ends and narrow at the center for the purpose described.

5. A Vfloat or life preserver consisting of a cork mounted between them, the side pieces being depressed at the center and the sets of corks also depressed at the center from one side piece to the other, each set of corks be- ;ing provided with a canvas cover surrounding it, a pair of rods extending from oneA side piece to the other beyond the corks to serve as handles and a pair of handles supported by the side pieces and spaced from a them.

6. A float or life preserver comprising a pair of side pieces spaced apart, and blocks of cork extending from one side piece to the other, the side pieces and entire body of the corks being wide at the ends and narrow at the center for the purpose described.

7. As an article of manufacture, a float or l life preserver comprising two sets of light blocks, secured between the side pieces, and

la pair of side pieces, said blocks being of a iixed my signature. f

CARL C. HARRIS. 

